Public relations is all about relationships.
Securing media coverage and social media marketing are often two very different components of a company’s public relations plan, but have you thought about how many similarities these two tactics have in common? Regardless of whether you’re working with the media or directly with consumers, here are 5 tips to keep in mind:
- Be prepared. Before you start posting updates or sending pitches, take the time to get your ducks in a row. In addition to helping you respond more quickly, making sure everything is set up correctly will make you look more organized and credible.
- Make a plan. Although you don’t need a big, formal public relations plan, planning which media outlets you’re going to target and when is just as important as planning how many updates you plan to post on Facebook or Twitter and how often. At Three Girls Media, we recommend creating plans 6-months at a time so you have enough time to see results, but also have the flexibility to try something new if you need to make a change.
- Remember it’s all about relationships. Public relations is all about relationships. Although you might not go to coffee with every Facebook follower or journalist, taking the time to remember details about them and investing in them will go a long way in helping you secure media coverage or improving your social media marketing engagement.
- Offer something of value. Do you get tired of friends that constantly talk about themselves and don’t show any concern for you? Although you might not personally know all your followers, or a reporter you’re talking to, by providing something of value you’re showing that you’re not self-absorbed. In social media marketing we rely on the 80/20 rule, which means 20% of your updates are self-promotional and the other 80% are provoking images, interesting infographics, fun memes or helpful articles. When it comes to securing media coverage, you can keep this principle in mind by giving to receive. As Spin Sucks explains, “Never leave a reporter empty handed…sometimes you might even have to offer up someone outside of your organization if they’re the right person, and this is OK. You want to be a helpful source; the most helpful, bad-a$$ source you can possibly be!”
- Show some personality. Feel free to be yourself, just keep it friendly and professional. Although you don’t want to get too casual on your company’s social media networks or share too much information with a reporter, let your posts and emails reflect who you are. Share pictures or opinions; just steer clear of anything too inflammatory.
Does your public relations plan include social media marketing and trying to secure media coverage? What similarities have you noticed between these two marketing tactics?
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Three Girls Media, Inc. is a public relations and social media management agency with teams in Silicon Valley and the Seattle area. We love working with small and emerging companies across the nation to raise their brand awareness and name recognition. We offer a complimentary 30-minute phone consultation with our CEO and can answer your questions and discuss your specific marketing needs. Call 408-218-2391 or Contact us today to arrange yours!
Photo Credit: Tsahi Levent-Levi